Spring mounted rocking horse



A. DODSON SPRING MOUNTED ROCKING HORSE April 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1952 INVENTOR 614L241 iw QAMMAQW,

d ATTQRNEZ April 24, DODSON SPRING MOUNTED ROCKING HORSE Filed Sept. 12, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR 9 BY 6. /ZfifZ/EY April 24, 1956 DQDSQN 2,743,104

SPRING MOUNTED liOCKING HORSE Filed Sept. 12, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR Std/(aw D/OIJAOAA/J 12 Y' 6 d ATTOZZvEY United States Patent SPRING MOUNTED RO CKING HORS Adrain Dodson, Columbus, Miss. Application September 12, 1952, SerialNo..3il9,269 10 Claims. (Cl. 272 631) My invention relates broadly to amusement devices and more particularly to devices for simulating the appearance and movement of bucking broncos, Brahma bulls, horses, etc.

One of the objects of my invention isto provide a construction of figure simulating an :anirnal which is floatatingly supported on coil springs which may .be rendered selectively effective by displacement of the, eifective mass of the rider for reproducing in similitude the bucking and prancing of the animal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of figure mounted with respect to a set of rockers in a position in which the figure is normally supported in =Still another object of my invention is to provide a structure of rocking figure having central coil spring sup- 1.-

ports and front and rear coil springs, including operating devices pivotally mounted with respect to the rocking support for the figure and selectively effective through pedal control means operated by the rider for producing motions. of the figure simulating bucking and prancing movements. I v

' Other and further objects of my invention reside in the distribution of coil springs within a figure which may be alternately'subjected toexpansion and compression forces for imparting. movement to the figure simulating bucking and prancing as set forth more fully in the specification hereafter following ,byreference to the accompanying drawings, in whichz'd I Figure lyis a perspective view of a hobby horse embodyingfmy invention, the view being partially broken awayand illustrated in section for showing the arrangernent of the spring mounting of the figure by which bucking and prancing movements o f thefigure are reproduced in. similitude; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. l and illustrating the arrangement or coil springs for fio'atatinglymounting the figure in normally balanced equilibrium, certain of the parts beingv shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional-view taken on line 3 3"of Fig; l' and illustrat: ing one of the angu'larly disposed sllspensions'prings which serve tomount the front and rear of the figure; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on. line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig, 5', is'a fragmentar'yrview taken through either the front or rear suspension spring and illustrating the condition in which-the suspension spring is exp'andedfrom a normally balanced-condition; Fig." sis aview'sirnilar to the view shown in Fig. 5 but showing'the'suspension' spring won pressed from a normally balanced condition; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 77 of Pig. 2; Fig. 8 is afragmentary perspective view showing-the ar rangement of the pedals for maneuvering the figure into positions representing bucking and prancing of the figure 1n similitude; Figs. 9', 1.0, 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate progressive conditions of movement of the figure under control of the several coil springs as the rider maneuvers the pedals for the shifting of the eifective mass'withrespect to opposite ends of the figure during the rocking. thereof.

My invention is directed to a construction of figure mounted on rockers and supported on four symmetrically arranged coil springs which are renderedselectively 'ell'ective by the shifting of mass of the rider under control of pedals by which the springs become alternately effective for the delivery of kinetic energy subsequent to the storing up of potential energyin the springs for simulating a bucking or prancing movement of the figure. For purposes of explaining my invention, I have illustrated the invention applied to a hobby horse but it will be under- I stood that any type of figure may be provided, such as proximately two and one-halffeet high and four feet long. The overall width of the rockers in=suoh embodi ment of my invention is approximately eighteen inches in order to keep the figure frorn'tilting sidewise. The rockers are provided with resilient bumpers .at'opposite ends thereof which form limiting abutments with the floor and keep the figure from sliding. The rockers provide pivotal connections for front and rear rods and for a pair of centrally arranged rods. The centrally arranged rods extend in a vertical direction, while -the front and rear rods are angularly inclined and directed toward the con-- tral plane in which the vertically extending rods extend; The figure is provided with a pair of spaced sockets into which the vertically extending rods project. The sockets" are fioatatingly mounted on the vertically extending rods by means of coil springs normally biased to a position in which the massjof the rideron the figure is resiliently pushing. The front and rear rods are connected with the figure through coil springs normally biased to an intermediate position and capable of displacement through either of two limits, one of which is a compressed position and the other of which is a fully expanded position. The front and rear rods and their associated springs nor-' mally maintain the figure in a condition of balancedequilibrium withth'e mass of the rider on'the figure. Under those conditions, the mass of the rider is equally divided between the four, springs, the centrally disposed springs being compressed and the front and rear springs being errpanded. A set oi control pedals are pivotally mounted with respect to both the figure and the vertically extending- 1 designates the figure which may be formed from plastic,

plywood or metal in a shell havin a hollow interior and an outward appearance which simulates the horse, Brahma bull or other animal. The figure has a hollow interior with an o en lower portion through which the supports for the'figureextend. The figure is mounted upon a pair of rockers represented at 2 and 3, terminating in substantially semicircular portions 2a and 2b and 3a and 3b atopposite ends thereof having resilient bumpers 2a, 21), 3a and 3b on the lower edges thereof and providing abutment stops for limiting the movement of the rockers. The rockers have centrally disposed pivot connections at their extreme lower positions with a pair of vertically extending standards 4 and which are pivoted to the rockers 2 and 3 at 4a and 5a, respectively. The standards 4 and 5 are fixed in spaced relation with respect to each other in a substantially rigid frame by means of tie standards 4' and 5, whereby the standards 4 and 5 are free to shift in unison on either side of a central plane extending through the figure 1. The standards 4 and 5 are each provided with offset shoulders 4b and 4c; and 5b and 50, respectively. The upward extensions of the standards 4 and 5 are shown at 4d and 5d which extend coplanar with respect to each other but offset from the vertical axes of the lower portions of the standards at 4 and 5. The upwardly projecting ends of the standards at 4d and 5d extend into tapered sockets represented at 6 and 7. The sockets include closed end members 6:! and 7a. The tapered sockets 6 and 7 are fastened together at their closed ends by means of transverse bar 8 which provides securing means for the tapered sockets through angle members 6b and 7b and securing rivets 6c and 7c which pass through the closed end members 6a and 7a and the end walls of the sockets 6 and 7 and are secured through the angle members 6b and 7b which are in turn fastened to bar 8 through rivets 8a and 8b. The ends 4d and 5d of the standards 4 and 5 are each pro vided with upwardly extending pintles 4e and 52 which project through washer members 4 and 5 and form seats for the coil springs 9 and 10. Coil springs 9 and 10 are normally biased to a position from which the springs may contract under the load of the rider on the seat 11 of the figure. The coil springs are so biased that considerable cushion effect is secured, and under all normal conditions of loading, the coil springs are never fully compressed.

The sockets 6 and 7 and the frame of the figure 1 form pivot means for the operating links 12 and 14 of the control pedals 15 and 16. The pivot connections between the operating links 12 and 14 and the frame of the figure 1 and the tapered sockets 6 and 7 are represented at 17 and 18, passing through the end walls of the sockets 6 and 7 and displaced from the path of movement of the ends 4d and 5d of standards 4 and 5 into and out of sockets 6 and 7. The control pedals 1S and 16 are pivoted on members 19 and 20, passing through standards 4 and 4 immediately below shoulders 40 and 5c and immediately above shoulders 4b and 5b. The shoulders 4b and 5b are chamfered to enable control pedals 15 and 16 to move without obstruction about the shoulders 4b and 5b.

To facilitate this movement, the control pedals 15 and 16 are shaped at 15a and 16a to provide a rounded surface between two limiting angularly disposed surfaces represented at 1511 and 15c in Figs. 1 and 8, whereby control pedals 15 and 16 may be oriented through different angular positions without striking the chamfered surfaces 4b t and 5b. The control pedals 15 and 16 are provided with extension links 15c and 160 at their extremities which connect with operating links 12 and 14 pivoted at 17 and 18 as heretofore explained. The control pedals 15 and 16 have feet engaging members 21 and 22 at their forward ends into which the feet of the operator may extend for manipulating the pedals and imparting angular movement to operating links 12 and 14 and correspondingly moving the figure forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the rockers 2 and 3. Reinforcement bars 23 and 24 are mounted in the rockers 2 and 3 on opposite sides of the pivotal connections 4a and 5a between the standards 4 and 5 and the rockers 2 and 3.

At opposite ends of the rockers, I provide pivotally mounted rods 25 and 26, the rods being carried centrally of transverse bars 25a and 26a, respectively, the transverse bars 250 and 26a being pivotally mounted between the semi-circular portions 2b and 2a at opposite ends of they runners, respectively. The rod member 25 and the pivotal mounting portion 25a thereof and also the rod mem- 7 ber 26 and the pivotal mounting 26a thereof are substantially in the shape of inverted Ts with the vertically extending portions of the Ts directed toward the hollow interior of the figure and the transverse portions of the Ts serving to pivotally mount rods 25 and 26 in the rockable frame constituted by rockers 2 and 3. Rod member 25 extends angularly toward the central plane of the vertical standards 4 and 5 and projects through an elongated slot 27 formed in the head of the figure, the slot being of such length that the required angular displacement of the rod with respect to the figure is permitted. The upper end of rod 25 extends between brace bars 28 and 29 disposed transversely of the figure and within the hollow body of the figure and disposed in a plane which is substantially normal to the axis of the rod 25 when the figure is in normally balanced position. The end of the rod projects to a position approaching the center transverse plane of the figure and terminates in a head 25b under which there is engaged a frusto-conical coil spring 30, the lower end of which is secured to the bars 28 and 29 by twisted wire or thread shown at 2811 and 29a. The normal position of coil spring 30 is depicted in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 illustrates the compressed condition of the coil spring during which potential energy is stored in the spring, while Fig. 6 indicates'the expanded condition of the spring during which time kinetic energy is released by the spring simulating a bucking or prancing attitude of the figure.

The rearwardly located rod 26 is arranged in a manner similar but opposite to rod 25. The rod is inclined toward the central plane of the figure and projects between transverse bars 31 and 32 disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rod 26 when the figure is in normal position. Rod 26 extends between bars 31 and 32 and through the convolutions of frusto-conical spring 33 which is confined on the end of rod 26 by head 26b. The end convolution of coil spring 33 is secured to transverse bars 31 and 32 by fastening cords or wires 31a and 3211. Fig. 1 shows the normal position for coil spring 33 with its convolutions sufiiciently widely spaced to allow the coil springs to stretch or contract in accordance with the movement desired by the rider in seat 11. Upon compressing coil spring 33, potential energy is stored therein which is released as kinetic energy for bringing about a bucking or prancing attitude for the figure.

Figs. 9-14 show a progressive series of positions through which the figure may be moved under control of the operator. Fig. 9 represents a condition in which the figure is substantially erect and wherein there is no rocking or pedal movement, the figure and the mass of the rider being fioatatingly suspended on springs 9 and 10 and the front and rear movement being resisted by the normal bias exerted by front and rear coil springs 30 and 33.

However, the rider on seat 11 may effect a displacement of the pedals 15 and 16 as shown in Fig. 10. preparatory to the expansion of coil spring 30 and the compression of coil spring 33 as shown by the forward rocking movement depicted in Fig. 11.

Without changing the position of control pedals 15 and 16, the figure may be caused to rock on rockers 2 and 3 in accordance with the action represented in Fig. 12 wherein coil spring 30 is compressed while coil spring 33 is allowed to expand.

The figure may now be allowed to rock forward under control of the pedal movement as represented in Fig. 13 wherein spring 30 is allowed to expand while spring 33 is permitted to contract.

In Fig. 14 1 have shown the condition in which the figure rocks rearwardly under control of pedal movement where coil spring 30 contracts while coil spring 33 expands. During all of these movements, the figure is floatatingly mounted with respect to runners 2 and 3 by centrally arranged coil springs 9 and 10. Thus alsprings'30 and 33 rendered alternately effective to reproduce a booking or prancing action as the potential energyzsto'red in the springs is converted into kinetic energy in; producing a sudden reactionary or kick-back force.

When the rider is mounted on the figure without any attempt :-at roclting, the weight is equally divided between the foursprings 9 and 10 and 30 and 33, and springs 9 and 10 are compressedwhile springs 30 and 33am stretched. As the rider rocks forward andthe front bumpers 2b and 3b strike the surface of the floor represented at 34, the bumpers serve as safety devices to keep the figure from turning over and coil spring 30,.for example, stretches beyond its normally biased position and. coil spring 33 compresses to effect a kick-back action; When the rear bumper strikes the floor, a reverse of the action is secured. In Figs. 10, 13 and 14, the

weight of the rider can be shifted to the control pedals 15 and 16 to give the effect of an upward lift. However, best results are obtained by pressing the control pedals 15 and 16 downwardly at the same time the bumpers 2b and 3b strike the surface of the floor. The release of potential energy under this condition is such as to impart an abrupt reaction or bucking effect to the figure.

The extent of this reaction can be appreciated by comparing the position of the figure in Fig. 11 with the position of the figure in Fig. 13 and also the position of the figure shown in Fig. 12 as compared to the position of the figure shown in Fig. 14.

The forward and rearward rods 25 and 26 extend toward the centrally disposed plane which includes standards 4 and 5 and are disposed at acute angles thereto. The angularity of the rod members 25 and 26 varies as the figure is displaced on the frame constituted by the rockers 2 and 3. This variation, however, remains within the range of acute angles measured with respect to the central plane through the standards '4 and 5 and the figure. I

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, I realize that changes may be made in details or construction, and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the ap-,

pended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An amusement device comprising a rockable frame including a pair of rockets, a pair of standards extending vertically from said rockable frame and pivoted thereto, a hollow figure having a pair of sockets therein alignable with the upper ends of said standards, coil springs mounted in said sockets and serving to receive the upward extremities of said standards for floatatingly suspending said figure with respect to said rockers, separate coil springs mounted within and supported on said figure on opposite sides of the aforesaid centrally arranged coil springs, rod members extending'through said separate coil springs and individually connected with the ends thereof and pivotally connected to oppositev ends of said rockable frame, whereby said figure may be displaced forwardly and backwardly for reproducing the combined reactionary elfects from said separate coil springs.

2. A rockable figure comprising in combination a rockable frame, a pair of standards pivotally mounted at their ends in positions disposed centrally of said rockable frame and projecting vertically therefrom, a hollow,

figure, a pair of coil springs interposed between the hollow interior of said figure and the upper ends of said standards for floatatingly mounting said figure on said standards, forwardly and rearwardly arranged rod members pivoted to the front and rear portions of said rockable frame and separate coil springs interconnecting the pivotally. mounted forwardly and rearwardly of said rockable frame and directed toward a central. plane extending through the aforesaid-standards substantially at acute angles thereto'and coil springs interconnecting the ends of said last-mentioned rod members with said figure.

4. An amusement device comprising a hollow --figure,-

a rockable frame, means supporting said hollow figure with respect to said rockable frame comprising a pair of substantially vertically extending standards pivotally mounted at their lower ends in said rockable frame, coil springs interposed between the upper ends of said standards and the hollow interior of said figure, a pair of inverted T-shaped members pivoted forwardly and rearwardly of said rockable frame, said inverted T-shaped members including rods directed into the hollow interior of said figure toward the aforesaid standards and coil springs interposed between said figure and theends of said last-mentioned rods for suspending said figure with respect thereto.

5. An amusement device comprising a figure having a hollow interior, a pair of inverted tapered sockets mounted centrally within the hollow interior of said figure adjacent opposite sides thereof, a rockable frame, a pair of standards pivotally mounted in said frame and projecting vertically therefrom and into said tapered sockets, coil springs disposed between the ends of said standards and the bases of said sockets, whereby said figure is free to rock forwardly and rearwardly while floatatingly suspended on said coil springs limited by the taper of said sockets, control pedals pivotally mounted on said standaids and connected with said figure for applying forces to said rockable frame and to said figure for rocking said frame for shifting said figure and means interposed between opposite ends of 'said rockable frame and opposite ends of said figure for yieldablyresisting displacement of said figure.

6. An amusement device as set forth in claim 5 in which said means includes a pair of separate rod members pivotally mounted at opposite ends of said rockable frame and coil springs interposed between the ends of said separate rod members and saidfigure, whereby displacement of said figure in one direction expands one of said coil springs while compressing the other and wherein movement of said figure in the opposite direction expands said last-mentioned coil spring while compressing the first-mentioned coil spring.

7 An amusement device as set forth in claim 5 in which said last mentioned means comprise inverted T- shaped members having transverse portions journaled in said rockable frame structure and linear portions extending therefrom and directed to a substantially central position adjacent the aforesaid sockets, and coil springs interconnecting the linear portions of said T-shaped members and said figure for controlling the displacement of said figure toward and away from said rockable frame structure. r

8. An amusement device as set forth in claim 5 in which said last-mentioned means comprise inverted-'1'- shaped members having transverse portions journaled at opposite ends of said rockable frame and linear, portions extending in a longitudinal plane between said tapered sockets, frusto-conical coil springs having their bases secured to said figure and having their'apices connected with the linear portionsof said T'-shaped members for effecting alternate expansion and compression operations as the figure reproduces a bucking action in similitude.

9. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of control pedals journaled on said standards and rockable with respect to said figure, and connections extending between said pedals and said figure and operative to rock said figure under control of said coil springs from forces exerted against said pedals.

10. An amusement device comprising a rockable support, a substantially hollow figure, means disposed subto the plane of said centrally disposed means within said hollow figure, and coil springs interposed between each of the rod members and said figure and coacting to alternately aid and oppose the forward and rearward displace: ment of said figure with respect to the central transverse plane through said means according to displacemen forces applied to said pedal members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,530 Hill Mar. 6, 1883 348,513 Conover Aug. 3, 1886 819,878 Grindy May 8, 1906 2,437,015 Baltz Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 254,058 Germany Nov. 22, 1912 4l9,515 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1934 

